"7 Times Around The Devil Tree"

"7 Times Around The Devil Tree"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I grew up listening to my Grandfather Romys stories. I would fall asleep listening to common folklore and different narratives that involved talking fish and a demon disguised as a man named Valentin who would kidnap children , slit their throats like chicken and used their blood in a ceremony that made bridges stronger. My lolo sugar coated all these of course and it is now as an adult that I realized what those stories were all about. 

This is one of my lolo's unusual stories that have stuck with me to this day. There is a tree in Odiongan. It could just be any other tree. Another Balete that would be the same as the next or the one before it however this particular tree had a sinister surprise attached to it. Rumor has it that when you walk around this tree 6 times you would need to stop. Those who continued around the tree for a 7th time met something that was beyond this world. There was talk that someone would go mad after encountering this horrible creature.

One particular story was when children were chasing each other around this old balete tree. They were playing a harmless game until they made a 7th turn. Nobody could explain what happened next but 2 children were found shaking on the ground , their gaze fixed on the tree as if there were expecting something to come out. One of the children had urinated in his own shorts from fear. Their playmates could not console them and they were unable to move from where they had fallen to the ground. Their parents had to be called so that they would stop crying. 

When their parents asked them what happened one of the children said, "May sumalubong po sa amin(something met us)". When asked to describe what they saw the children began sobbing uncontrollably again. No one was able to extract that information from them even to this day.As adults they don't really want to talk about that incident.

Over the years the reputation of this so-called Devil tree grew and there would be thrill-seekers who would come and test if the rumors were true. Most chicken out at the 6th turn.There are those who still continue the 7th turn and would say that they felt something rather than saw something. They would fall ill for a couple of days ,they would claim that this was the worst feeling that they would ever have in their life ,  after which they would swear to never come close to the tree ever again.

People in the surrounding areas have simply grown to be wary of the tree.They avoid the place altogether. Someone even suggested cutting the tree but they were outvoted by a scared majority who was afraid of the thing that they might release once the deed was done.The tree still stands.Waiting to give a chilly reminder why people call it the devil tree.